Scholarships and Bursaries
What are scholarships and bursaries?
Scholarships (also called awards) are funding that’s awarded based on your academic and extracurricular achievements. Some are automatically awarded based on grades and others require an application.
Bursaries are funding provided by McMaster based solely on financial need. In most cases information from your OSAP application is used to determine your financial need but some students who don’t receive OSAP may still apply for a bursary.
Both are non-repayable funding, which means you don’t need to pay it back!
Visit the Undergraduate Calendar for the full terms and conditions for all scholarships, bursaries and academic grants.
McMaster faculty, staff, retirees and their spouses/dependents enrolled in a degree, diploma and certificate program can also access AwardSpring to apply for Tuition Assistance & Bursary Benefits. Step-by-step instructions are available under the “How to Apply” tab.
Who can apply?
International and domestic undergraduate students from all Faculties/programs.
This page focuses on scholarships for current McMaster undergraduate students. Grad student? Find more information on awards and funding through the School of Graduate Studies.
Types of scholarships
Entrance awards are monetary awards given to incoming students based on academic merit and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit (community involvement, leadership, etc.). Most are automatically awarded, while some require an application. The value of your entrance award will be credited to your student account after the deadline to add and/or drop classes without penalty. You can view your award value and monitor its disbursement in the Mosaic Student Center.
In-course awards are for full- and part-time undergraduate students not in their graduating year.
- Some awards are open to students in any faculty or program.
- Others are specific to certain faculties, programs, years, etc. This means your list of available scholarships might be different than your friends.
- International students can apply for the same awards as domestic students.
In-course awards that require an application are determined by cumulative GPA. They require a minimum cumulative GPA of 8.0 on at least 18 graded units, while those determined by fall-winter average require a minimum average of 9.5 on at least 18 graded units.
These non-monetary awards go on your transcript to recognize your extracurricular work and community involvement.
- Open to full-time and part-time undergrads in second year and above.
- International students can apply for the same awards as domestic students.
- Maximum of three Community Contribution Award applications per student per year.
Make sure you read each award’s description carefully to make sure it’s right for your extracurricular achievements!
We can help you travel the world! Apply for these awards to help fund a McMaster Exchange or other study-abroad opportunity. Apply if you are travelling during the upcoming summer or next fall/winter.
McMaster Travel and Exchange Awards are broken down into two categories:
- Travel Awards: Apply if you’re participating in the McMaster Exchange Program or another type of global experience (research, internship, language study, etc.).
- Exchange Awards: Apply if you’re going on a formal exchange through the McMaster Exchange Program only.
Some other options to fund your travel/exchange experience:
- Exchange Ambassador Awards
- Global Experience Awards (for undergrads and grad students)
- Find more resourced through the Student Success Centre
The McCall MacBain International Fellowship
A new world of ideas and possibilities lies beyond your comfort zone. Learn a new language, enhance your academics and gain cross-cultural work experience with the McCall MacBain International Fellowship.
- Value: Up to $23,500 per person.
- Fellows spend a year abroad divided into three terms: language, academic and work/internship.
Learn more about the McCall MacBain International Fellowship here.
These awards are for student in their graduating year. Graduating this spring/summer? Apply by April 29. If you’re graduating in the fall you’ll be able to apply the winter term after your convocation — even if you lose access to Mosaic and AwardSpring.
These scholarships have different timelines than the rest of McMaster’s in-course scholarships. Explore each award for more details and how/when to apply!
The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill
The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill are Canada’s first comprehensive, leadership-driven scholarships for master’s and professional degree students.
- Value: Tuition and fees for an eligible master’s or professional program and a living stipend of $2,000 per month during academic terms
- A comprehensive enrichment program including mentorship, interdisciplinary learning and access to a global community.
Learn more about The McCall MacBain Scholarships, here.
Renaissance Award
Take some time to expand your learning beyond your program of study!
- Value: Up to $25,000 for a 4- to 12-month self-directed enrichment experience
- Apply through AwardSpring
Learn more about the Renaissance Award, here.
Rhodes Scholarship
Your chance to study at Oxford University in England for 2-3 years!
- Value: At least $50,000/year for tuition, fees, living expenses
- Eleven Rhodes Scholars are chosen from across Canada each year (two in Ontario)
- Apply through AwardSpring to be one of McMaster’s nominees
Learn more about the Rhodes Scholarship, here.
Killam Fellowship
Live and study in the United States for one semester or a full academic year!
- Value: Up to $10,000 USD, plus a health insurance allowance
- Submit your application by Jan. 15 on the Killam website
Learn more about the Killam Scholarship, here.
Project Hero
Financial support to the children of Canadian military killed while serving in an active mission.
- Value: Tuition waiver + residence (double room) and a regular meal plan at McMaster covered
- For application information, contact Student Services
The Schulich Leader Scholarships
These entrance awards are given to the top entrepreneurial-minded STEM students that demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, creativity and charisma.
- Value: $100,000 or $80,000 to pursue an undergraduate degree in an eligible STEM program.
- Schulich Leaders join an elite network and benefit from student enrichment opportunities throughout the year.
Learn more about The Schulich Leader Scholarships, here.
The Wilson Leadership Scholar Awards
The Wilson Leadership Scholar Award recognizes and cultivates leadership potential and prepares undergraduate and graduate students to serve as Canada’s next generation of leaders. Wilson Leaders commit about 15 hours per month to meeting with mentors and experts, taking on new experiences and building on current interests, and pursuing their personal and professional goals.
- Value: $20,000 in direct and $5,000 in experiential funding
- Wilson Leaders commit about 15 hours per month to meeting with mentors and experts, taking on new experiences and building on current interests, and pursuing their personal and professional goals.
Learn more about the Wilson Leadership Scholar Awards, here.
The Climate Change and Health — Innovation Award
The Climate Change and Health – Innovation Award recognizes students who have achieved excellence in creating an innovative solution that positively impacts climate change and health. The award has been developed to encourage interdisciplinary team work and collaboration, as well as foster the kind of diverse and inclusive leadership that is required to address complex sustainability challenges in our society.
Learn more about the Climate Change and Health – Innovation Award here.
Organizations (cultural groups, foundations, religious groups, etc.) and companies often offer scholarships. These awards are external to McMaster and are open to students from many universities/colleges. There are no limits on the number of external scholarships you can be awarded!
You can mail any external scholarships directly to the Accounts Receivable office at:
Accounts Receivable
Gilmour Hall Room 209
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8S-4L8
Please note: the cheques must be made out to McMaster University or endorsed over.
Scholarship websites
These sites are great places to look for scholarships:
Featured scholarships
Dig – BIPOC Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship
Scholarship will be awarded to two BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Colour) student studying at a Canadian University. Applicants must demonstrate academic achievement with a minimum GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) and be pursuing a career in consumer insights.
Requirements: Submit a 500-word essay or short video explaining your interest in a career in consumer insights.
Deadline: March 31, 2021
Value: $4,000 and a 3-month offer of paid employment either between academic years (i.e. summer) or as part of their study requirements (i.e. internship) in the year the scholarship is awarded.
Haywood Hunt & Associates Scholarship Program
Scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in a Canadian college or university. Applicants are asked to write a short 500-1000 word essay on the internet and social media have changed the way that police and law enforcement investigate crimes.
Requirements: Submit a short essay
Deadline: August 31, 2021
Value: $1,250
The Fessenden-Trott Scholarship
This scholarship is administered by Universities Canada and rotates between universities from specific provinces each year. Applications are open to McMaster students from all Faculties who have at minimum completed the first year of their first bachelor degree program by June 16, 2021. Only one application from McMaster will be forwarded to Universities Canada for the final selection. Please review the scholarship information and guidelines.
Requirements: Submit an application via this MacDrive link.
Deadline: May 3, 2021
Value: $9000 — tenable for up to three consecutive years or until the recipient’s first bachelor’s degree is obtained.
Wize Canadian University Student Scholarship
This scholarship is available to students currently enrolled at a Canadian post-secondary institution (international students may apply, as long as they are studying at a Canadian institution).
Requirements: Submit a brief application that designed to be low-barrier (no essays or proof of financial need required)
Deadline: April 30, 2021
Value: $1,000
The BeMo® & SortSmart® Diversity Advocacy Scholarship
Scholarships will be awarded to full-time pre-medical (any undergraduate discipline) or medical students in good academic standing.
Requirements: A short survey and brief, online screening test.
Deadline: The deadline for the spring scholarship is May 31 and Oct. 31 for the fall scholarship.
Value: $1,000
Scholarship & Bursary FAQs
I’m having problems with AwardSpring, who can help me?
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
Why did my pending aid disappear from my account summary in Mosaic?
Once our office initiates the deposit of the award with Accounts Receivable, the value of the award will disappear from Pending Aid. Over the course of a day or two, the pending aid is removed and the deposit is completed. Please allow sufficient time for the transaction to complete and the funds to display on the student account.
When will I see the scholarship opportunities I am matched with?
You will be matched with the scholarships you are eligible for when applications open on Jan 1.
Until then, you can browse all of the scholarships McMaster has to offer on AwardSpring.
Can I apply for the bursaries if I don’t receive OSAP?
You will be assessed a need score based on the information provided on their award spring application.
How can I stay up-to-date about aid & awards and my applications.
Be sure to check your dashboard and ‘@mcmaster.ca’ email regularly for aid & awards information/updates, including those sent directly from AwardSpring. You are also able to forward your ‘@mcmaster.ca’ emails to other email addresses used more frequently, such as your Medportal email (Medicine students).
Why aren’t I matched with any need-based opportunities?
To be eligible for need-based aid such as bursaries and the work program, your OSAP/government aid assessment must show an entitlement of at least $1. Once your application has an assessment, you’ll be able to review and apply for needs-based aid on AwardSpring within two business days.
How do I combine multiple documents into one pdf to upload to AwardSpring?
How to Combine PDFs:
- Software that is capable of combining PDFs
- Scan all your documents together to create one pdf.
- Take screenshots, paste them into a Word document and save as a pdf.
Please do not password protect your pdf documents.
What do the status fields on the Scholarships tab in AwardSpring mean?
Complete Follow-Up – There are additional requirements for you to complete. Navigate to your dashboard and click the button on the associated scholarship.
Why does the application status say “Closed” after I’ve submitted my application?
Once the application deadline date has passed, the status of an award will be listed as “Closed” as applications are no longer being accepted.
You can find all the applications you’ve submitted under “Applied Scholarships” on your Dashboard, listed with their specific applied, awarded, or denied status.
Monitor your dashboard regularly and be sure to add awardspring.ca to your ‘safe senders’ list to receive status updates via email.
Who can apply?
Undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate financial need can apply for the McMaster Bursary Program.
Please note: The McMaster Bursary Program is not open to international students enrolled in graduate studies, MBA, medicine or physician assistant programs.
- Be enrolled at McMaster
- International students must be enrolled in Level II or higher
- Submit a completed application by the bursary deadline
- OSAP students who receive an income update request must complete it by the income update deadline
- Continue to demonstrate financial need throughout the study period
- OSAP is used to demonstrate financial need. ONLY undergraduate students in the following groups will be considered for a bursary without an OSAP application:
- Indigenous Students
- International Students
- Students with OSAP government aid restrictions include:
- Academic progress restriction
- Income verification restriction
- Provincial and/or federal default restriction
- Credit check restriction
- Students with a disability taking a reduced course load
- Students with Out-of-Province Student Aid
- Part-time Students
- Students receiving social assistance
What is the MAPS Bursary?
This bursary provides non-repayable tuition and book assistance to part-time students who demonstrate financial need and do not qualify for OSAP. This includes students in degree programs AND certificate/diploma programs through McMaster University Continuing Education (MCE).
The McMaster Association for Part-Time Students (MAPS) generously donates the funding for this program. Primarily available to those receiving social assistance, the MAPS bursary program aids those who are economically disadvantaged.
Additional financial resources are required as the MAPS Bursary is not a means of covering the full cost of your education. You are required to enrol and pay for your courses before receiving MAPS Bursary funding.
The value of the MAPS Bursary varies each term. Limited bursaries are available.
Who can apply?
You can apply for the MAPS Bursary if you are:
- Economically disadvantaged
- Taking a part-time degree OR diploma/certificate program and have completed at least 50% of any prior course work on a part-time basis AND be continuing your studies part-time
- Ineligible for OSAP
Ineligible for the MAPS Bursary:
- Not economically disadvantaged
- No demonstration of financial need according to AwardSpring and MAPS Bursary application
- Eligible and entitled for OSAP for Part-Time Students
- Enrolled in a full-time course load
- Have completed 50% or more of any prior course work on a full-time basis
How to apply
Follow the step-by-step instructions under the “How to apply” tab to fill out your common application in AwardSpring.
- Enrol and pay for your courses before applying for MAPS Bursary funding.
- Complete your common application on AwardSpring (once per academic year)
- Complete the MAPS Bursary application for either undergraduate part-time students or continuing education (MCE) students
- Complete the 4-month budget for the study period (e.g. fall enrolment > September to December)
- Enrol in direct deposit
- You need to submit a new MAPS Bursary application for each term (fall, winter, spring/summer)
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
2020-2021 MAPS deadlines
| Application available | Application deadline | Application decision & payment of funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2019 | August 10, 2020 | September 16, 2020 | 2 weeks after applications close |
| Winter 2020 | November 2, 2020 | January 14, 2021 | 2 weeks after applications close |
| Spring/summer 2020 | March 15, 2021 | May 10, 2021 | 2 weeks after applications close |
What is the Summer Undergraduate Bursary?
This new bursary program is available in the spring/summer term for students completing the majority of their undergraduate program as a full-time student.
- Open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents only
- Intended to assist with additional costs associated with spring/summer courses and/or unpaid work placements required for degree completion
- Second-degree students are eligible to apply
- Limited funding is available
- Payments will be made in two installments: one in the spring session, one in the summer session
How to apply
- Follow the instructions under the “How to apply” tab
- Find the Summer Undergraduate Bursary application under the ‘Follow-up’ tab in AwardSpring.
What is the Bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD)?
The Bursary for Students with Disabilities provides financial aid to students self-identifying as having either permanent or temporary disabilities. Funded by the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), this bursary assists with the costs of disability-related services or equipment, such as tutors, note-takers, interpreters, braillers or technical aids that are required to participate in postsecondary studies.
Learn more about the BSWD on the OSAP website:
OSAP websiteWho is eligible for BSWD?
Full-time and part-time students who:
- Self-identify as having a permanent or temporary disability on the OSAP application
- Have disability-related educational costs for services or equipment that are not covered by another agency or service
- Require these services/equipment to participate in post-secondary studies
- Have discussed accommodations with Student Accessibility Services
How to verify your disability
The OSAP Disability Verification Form is the only acceptable proof of disability.
Upload a completed OSAP Disability Verification Form (PDF) to verify your status as a student with a permanent disability.
Why self-identify as a student with a disability with OSAP?
- You can apply for OSAP for Full-Time Students at a 40% course load
- You can choose between OSAP for Full-Time Students or OSAP for Part Time Students with a 40-59% course load
- You could receive the Canada Student Grant for Students with Permanent Disabilities
- You may be considered for the bursary for Students with Disabilities (BSWD) if accommodations are needed
How to apply
- Apply for OSAP for Full-Time Students or OSAP for Part-Time Students and self-identify as a student with a permanent disability
- Upload your OSAP Disability Verification Form through your OSAP portal
- Meet with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss accommodations and complete the BSWD application not later that 60 days before the study period end date on your current OSAP application.
- SAS sends the BSWD application to Student Services
- Application is processed if eligible
- Bursary funding is credited to the McMaster student account
- Student Accounts pays the BSWD funding via cheque or direct deposit depending on your preference in Mosaic. Direct deposit is the fastest and most secure way to receive your funding – enrol in direct deposit.
- Purchase equipment or services and upload receipt(s) to the MacDrive link listed in your approval letter by the deadline.
Your commitment
Make sure you:
- Upload your complete OSAP Disability Verification Form through the OSAP website
- Update your mailing address on Mosaic
- Enrol in direct deposit to have the bursary funding deposited in your bank account
- Purchase all approved items/services once the bursary is received
- Upload your receipt(s) via MacDrive verifying the payment of all items within 30 days (all ongoing services by the end of the term)
- Repay any unused portion of the BSWD
BSWD FAQs
When can I purchase BSWD funded items or services?
Purchases may be made after your BSWD application is approved. Services such as tutoring or note taking should not take place prior to the application approval. Any purchases of items and services made before the application is approved may not be reimbursed.
Will BSWD cover the cost of a learning disability or a psycho-educational assessment?
If you are eligible for BSWD, you may be reimbursed for one diagnostic assessment, in a given loan year, as deemed necessary by a Disability Coordinator in Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students are required to meet with a Disability Coordinator in SAS for BSWD-approval before completing the assessment.
Can I use BSWD to help pay for tuition or books?
No. BSWD funding is intended to assist students with very specific disability-related educational needs. The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requires that every dollar of BSWD funding be accounted for with receipts verifying the purchase of the item or service that was approved by the Disability Coordinator.
Is the Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities the same as BSWD?
The Canada Student Grant for Persons with Permanent Disabilities is a federal OSAP grant. Eligibility for the grant is automatically determined through the full-time or part-time OSAP application process. The maximum value of the grant is $4,000 per academic year. It displaces $4,000 of OSAP federal loan with non-repayable grant funding. Students must self-identify as having a permanent disability on the OSAP application and qualify for funding to receive this grant.
Should students with permanent disabilities apply for full-time or part-time OSAP?
If you have permanent disabilities, and you are taking more than 40% and less than 60% of a full course load in each term, you have a choice of applying for OSAP as a part time or full-time student. It is recommended that you speak with a Student Services Professional for help deciding which program meets your financial needs.
Scholarship & Bursary FAQs
I’m having problems with AwardSpring, who can help me?
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
Why did my pending aid disappear from my account summary in Mosaic?
Once our office initiates the deposit of the award with Accounts Receivable, the value of the award will disappear from Pending Aid. Over the course of a day or two, the pending aid is removed and the deposit is completed. Please allow sufficient time for the transaction to complete and the funds to display on the student account.
When will I see the scholarship opportunities I am matched with?
You will be matched with the scholarships you are eligible for when applications open on Jan 1.
Until then, you can browse all of the scholarships McMaster has to offer on AwardSpring.
Can I apply for the bursaries if I don’t receive OSAP?
You will be assessed a need score based on the information provided on their award spring application.
How can I stay up-to-date about aid & awards and my applications.
Be sure to check your dashboard and ‘@mcmaster.ca’ email regularly for aid & awards information/updates, including those sent directly from AwardSpring. You are also able to forward your ‘@mcmaster.ca’ emails to other email addresses used more frequently, such as your Medportal email (Medicine students).
Why aren’t I matched with any need-based opportunities?
To be eligible for need-based aid such as bursaries and the work program, your OSAP/government aid assessment must show an entitlement of at least $1. Once your application has an assessment, you’ll be able to review and apply for needs-based aid on AwardSpring within two business days.
How do I combine multiple documents into one pdf to upload to AwardSpring?
How to Combine PDFs:
- Software that is capable of combining PDFs
- Scan all your documents together to create one pdf.
- Take screenshots, paste them into a Word document and save as a pdf.
Please do not password protect your pdf documents.
What do the status fields on the Scholarships tab in AwardSpring mean?
Complete Follow-Up – There are additional requirements for you to complete. Navigate to your dashboard and click the button on the associated scholarship.
Why does the application status say “Closed” after I’ve submitted my application?
Once the application deadline date has passed, the status of an award will be listed as “Closed” as applications are no longer being accepted.
You can find all the applications you’ve submitted under “Applied Scholarships” on your Dashboard, listed with their specific applied, awarded, or denied status.
Monitor your dashboard regularly and be sure to add awardspring.ca to your ‘safe senders’ list to receive status updates via email.
Introducing AwardSpring – Aid & Awards made simple
This year we’ve launched a new and simpler way to apply for aid and awards.
With AwardSpring, you can complete one common app that matches you with all the aid & award opportunities you’re eligible for. It also tracks the completion of any additional requirements on a user-friendly dashboard.
You can even share the same requirements (i.e. a reference letter or statement of interest) across all applications with the same criteria to save you time!
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
On your dashboard you will find all of the opportunities you are eligible for that have additional requirements. What’s great about AwardSpring is that you can share the same requirements (i.e. a reference letter or statement of interest) across all applications with the same criteria!
You’ll be able to view all the awards you’ve been automatically applied to or completed the follow up requirements for, listed under the Scholarships Tab with an “Applied” status.
Application Statuses:
- Applied: Your application is complete and submitted.
- Denied: You no longer meet the eligibility requirements (i.e. if you withdraw prior to the application deadline, you will be removed from the applicant pool, or if you have a significant change in financial status)
- Approved: If you continue to meet all eligibility requirements when the application period closes your application status will appear as Awarded ($1). For the general bursary this does not mean that you are guaranteed bursary funding but that your application is undergoing a final assessment in Mosaic.
If you receive an award, the value will not be listed in AwardSpring, but in your Mosaic Student Center.
Monitor your dashboard regularly and be sure to add awardspring.ca to your ‘safe senders’ list to receive status updates via email.
| Funding type | Decision notification | Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| General Bursary Program | Early February | mid-February |
| Summer Bursary Program | mid-May | Paid in two instalments: one in each session. |
| MAPS Bursary | After the add/drop deadline. | After the add/drop deadline. |
| In-course Award | End of July | After the add/drop deadline. |
| Community Contribution Award | End of July | After the add/drop deadline. |
| Travel & Exchange Award | May | Before leaving for your exchange/travel. |
| Graduating Student Award | Before your convocation ceremony | The summer following your convocation. |
Bursaries and most scholarships are paid directly to your McMaster student account and can be viewed in your Mosaic Student Centre. If there is a credit on your account after it is applied to your tuition and certain fees, the amount with be refunded to your personal bank account.
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
McMaster encourages award recipients to take the time to express appreciation to your award donor(s), by writing a personal thank you letter. Your letter is important – the individuals and organizations who fund student awards truly appreciate hearing about your accomplishments, goals, and plans for the future.
Letter template
Use the following template should be used to structure your thank you letter:
Thank you letter template (pdf)
Save the pdf to your computer, and then edit it using your preferred pdf editor (Adobe, Preview, etc).
Please note that inserting a photo into your letter is optional. If you do not want to include a photo, leave the photo box on the upper right blank.
Uploading your letter
How to upload your letter to AwardSpring (awards by application):
- Once you have been awarded a scholarship, log in to AwardSpring and access your Dashboard.
- Under the items requiring completion, find your award and click “Complete follow up.” If your award requires a thank you letter, you’ll be asked to submit one.
- Write your thank you letter using our downloadable template.
- Click “Upload File” to upload your letter.
- Once uploaded, select “Submit Follow-up” and you’ll be re-directed to your Dashboard.
How to upload your letter to MacDrive (all other awards):
McMaster’s Virtual drop box, MacDrive, allows you to easily and securely submit documents like your donor thank you letter.
- Write your thank you letter using the downloadable template above.
- Save your PDF as Firstname_Lastname_awardname.pdf
- Select ‘Add Files’, and then browse for your document
- Select the file and click OK. A successful upload has an ‘uploaded’ notification displayed on the screen.
Important:
- Please do not upload photos of your letter
- Only upload your document once
- Need confirmation the upload was successful? You can email sdintern@mcmaster.ca.
By submitting your thank you letter you are authorizing your student information, your photo, as well as any quotes taken from your thank you letter to be used in future stewardship materials and university communications such as McMaster newsletters. You are acknowledging that your letter may be edited before delivery to a donor, and you are releasing McMaster from any responsibility regarding how a donor may choose to use or publish your letter. If you choose to include your address, phone number and/or e-mail address you should be aware that the university will have no control over the donor’s use of this information.
2020-21 Fall/Winter Bursary Dates – Undergrads
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| Application Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Payment | Mid-February |
2020-21 Summer Bursary Dates – Undergrads
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | March 15 |
| Application Deadline | April 16 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | April 16 |
| Payment | one in spring session, one in summer session |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – Grad Students
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| Application Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Payment | Mid-February |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – Medicine Students
* Physician Assistant Students will be assessed at the same time (No application required)
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Sept. 1 |
| Application Deadline | Oct. 30 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Oct. 30 |
| Payment | End of November |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – MBA Students
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| MBA Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| MBA Application Deadline | Sept. 30 @ 11:59 p.m. |
| MBA Supporting Documentation Deadline | Sept. 30 @ 11:59 p.m. |
| MBA Bursary Payment | Mid-December |
*MBA students can apply for the MBA Bursary and the McMaster General Bursary Program. See Graduate Student dates for McMaster General Bursary Program deadlines.
2020-21 Travel & Exchange Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Request Deadline | March 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | March 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | Mid-April |
2020-21 Undergraduate In-Course Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Request Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of July |
2020-21 Graduating Students Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Request Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of May |
2020-21 Community Contribution Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Request Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of June |
2020-21 Rhodes Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | TBD |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | TBD |
| Recipients Confirmed | TBD |
2020-21 Renaissance Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Oct. 10 |
| Reference Letter Reciept Deadline | Jan. 8 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | Jan. 15 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of January |
2020-21 Killam Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | October 10 |
| McMaster Application Deadline | Jan. 6 |
| Nominations Confirmed | Early February |
Scholarship & Bursary FAQs
I’m having problems with AwardSpring, who can help me?
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
Why did my pending aid disappear from my account summary in Mosaic?
Once our office initiates the deposit of the award with Accounts Receivable, the value of the award will disappear from Pending Aid. Over the course of a day or two, the pending aid is removed and the deposit is completed. Please allow sufficient time for the transaction to complete and the funds to display on the student account.
When will I see the scholarship opportunities I am matched with?
You will be matched with the scholarships you are eligible for when applications open on Jan 1.
Until then, you can browse all of the scholarships McMaster has to offer on AwardSpring.
Can I apply for the bursaries if I don’t receive OSAP?
You will be assessed a need score based on the information provided on their award spring application.
How can I stay up-to-date about aid & awards and my applications.
Be sure to check your dashboard and ‘@mcmaster.ca’ email regularly for aid & awards information/updates, including those sent directly from AwardSpring. You are also able to forward your ‘@mcmaster.ca’ emails to other email addresses used more frequently, such as your Medportal email (Medicine students).
Why aren’t I matched with any need-based opportunities?
To be eligible for need-based aid such as bursaries and the work program, your OSAP/government aid assessment must show an entitlement of at least $1. Once your application has an assessment, you’ll be able to review and apply for needs-based aid on AwardSpring within two business days.
How do I combine multiple documents into one pdf to upload to AwardSpring?
How to Combine PDFs:
- Software that is capable of combining PDFs
- Scan all your documents together to create one pdf.
- Take screenshots, paste them into a Word document and save as a pdf.
Please do not password protect your pdf documents.
What do the status fields on the Scholarships tab in AwardSpring mean?
Complete Follow-Up – There are additional requirements for you to complete. Navigate to your dashboard and click the button on the associated scholarship.
Why does the application status say “Closed” after I’ve submitted my application?
Once the application deadline date has passed, the status of an award will be listed as “Closed” as applications are no longer being accepted.
You can find all the applications you’ve submitted under “Applied Scholarships” on your Dashboard, listed with their specific applied, awarded, or denied status.
Monitor your dashboard regularly and be sure to add awardspring.ca to your ‘safe senders’ list to receive status updates via email.
On your dashboard you will find all of the opportunities you are eligible for that have additional requirements. What’s great about AwardSpring is that you can share the same requirements (i.e. a reference letter or statement of interest) across all applications with the same criteria!
You’ll be able to view all the awards you’ve been automatically applied to or completed the follow up requirements for, listed under the Scholarships Tab with an “Applied” status.
Application Statuses:
- Applied: Your application is complete and submitted.
- Denied: You no longer meet the eligibility requirements (i.e. if you withdraw prior to the application deadline, you will be removed from the applicant pool, or if you have a significant change in financial status)
- Approved: If you continue to meet all eligibility requirements when the application period closes your application status will appear as Awarded ($1). For the general bursary this does not mean that you are guaranteed bursary funding but that your application is undergoing a final assessment in Mosaic.
If you receive an award, the value will not be listed in AwardSpring, but in your Mosaic Student Center.
Monitor your dashboard regularly and be sure to add awardspring.ca to your ‘safe senders’ list to receive status updates via email.
| Funding type | Decision notification | Payment disbursed |
|---|---|---|
| General Bursary Program | Early February | mid-February |
| Summer Bursary Program | mid-May | Paid in two instalments: one in each session. |
| MAPS Bursary | After the add/drop deadline. | After the add/drop deadline. |
| In-course Award | End of July | After the add/drop deadline. |
| Community Contribution Award | End of July | After the add/drop deadline. |
| Travel & Exchange Award | May | Before leaving for your exchange/travel. |
| Graduating Student Award | Before your convocation ceremony | The summer following your convocation. |
Bursaries and most scholarships are paid directly to your McMaster student account and can be viewed in your Mosaic Student Centre. If there is a credit on your account after it is applied to your tuition and certain fees, the amount with be refunded to your personal bank account.
Have questions about AwardSpring? Ask us here!
McMaster encourages award recipients to take the time to express appreciation to your award donor(s), by writing a personal thank you letter. Your letter is important – the individuals and organizations who fund student awards truly appreciate hearing about your accomplishments, goals, and plans for the future.
Letter template
Use the following template should be used to structure your thank you letter:
Thank you letter template (pdf)
Save the pdf to your computer, and then edit it using your preferred pdf editor (Adobe, Preview, etc).
Please note that inserting a photo into your letter is optional. If you do not want to include a photo, leave the photo box on the upper right blank.
Uploading your letter
How to upload your letter to AwardSpring (awards by application):
- Once you have been awarded a scholarship, log in to AwardSpring and access your Dashboard.
- Under the items requiring completion, find your award and click “Complete follow up.” If your award requires a thank you letter, you’ll be asked to submit one.
- Write your thank you letter using our downloadable template.
- Click “Upload File” to upload your letter.
- Once uploaded, select “Submit Follow-up” and you’ll be re-directed to your Dashboard.
How to upload your letter to MacDrive (all other awards):
McMaster’s Virtual drop box, MacDrive, allows you to easily and securely submit documents like your donor thank you letter.
- Write your thank you letter using the downloadable template above.
- Save your PDF as Firstname_Lastname_awardname.pdf
- Select ‘Add Files’, and then browse for your document
- Select the file and click OK. A successful upload has an ‘uploaded’ notification displayed on the screen.
Important:
- Please do not upload photos of your letter
- Only upload your document once
- Need confirmation the upload was successful? You can email sdintern@mcmaster.ca.
By submitting your thank you letter you are authorizing your student information, your photo, as well as any quotes taken from your thank you letter to be used in future stewardship materials and university communications such as McMaster newsletters. You are acknowledging that your letter may be edited before delivery to a donor, and you are releasing McMaster from any responsibility regarding how a donor may choose to use or publish your letter. If you choose to include your address, phone number and/or e-mail address you should be aware that the university will have no control over the donor’s use of this information.
2020-21 Fall/Winter Bursary Dates – Undergrads
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| Application Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Payment | Mid-February |
2020-21 Summer Bursary Dates – Undergrads
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | March 15 |
| Application Deadline | April 16 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | April 16 |
| Payment | one in spring session, one in summer session |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – Grad Students
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| Application Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Jan. 15 |
| Payment | Mid-February |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – Medicine Students
* Physician Assistant Students will be assessed at the same time (No application required)
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Sept. 1 |
| Application Deadline | Oct. 30 |
| Supporting Documentation Deadline | Oct. 30 |
| Payment | End of November |
2020-21 Bursary Dates – MBA Students
| Item | Important Dates |
|---|---|
| MBA Application Opens | Aug. 10 |
| MBA Application Deadline | Sept. 30 @ 11:59 p.m. |
| MBA Supporting Documentation Deadline | Sept. 30 @ 11:59 p.m. |
| MBA Bursary Payment | Mid-December |
*MBA students can apply for the MBA Bursary and the McMaster General Bursary Program. See Graduate Student dates for McMaster General Bursary Program deadlines.
2020-21 Travel & Exchange Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Receipt Deadline | March 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | March 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | Mid-April |
2020-21 Undergraduate In-Course Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Receipt Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of July |
2020-21 Graduating Students Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Receipt Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of May |
2020-21 Community Contribution Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Jan. 1 |
| Reference Letter Receipt Deadline | April 15 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | April 29 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of June |
2020-21 Rhodes Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | TBD |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | TBD |
| Recipients Confirmed | Sept. 15 |
2020-21 Renaissance Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | Oct. 10 |
| Reference Letter Receipt Deadline | Jan. 8 |
| Application Deadline (AwardSpring and supporting documents) | Jan. 15 |
| Recipients Confirmed | End of January |
2020-21 Killam Scholarship Dates
| Item | Important Date(s) |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | October 10 |
| McMaster Application Deadline | Jan. 6 |
| Nominations Confirmed | Early February |
Introducing AwardSpring
Useful Information – TBD
Have questions about AwardSpring?
Need-based aid
Financial aid funding that is based on financial need and not academics/extracurriculars. This includes OSAP and other government loan/grants programs, bursaries and the work program.
Merit-based aid
Often called “awards”, this kind of funding is based on academics/extracurricular accomplishments. The most common type is scholarships.
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